I changed bank in September. The whole process was online, and I had the new account number immediately. My old account's balance, regular bill payments and details of people I've transferred money to online was automatically moved to the new account. (I was impressed with this, there was more information visible on the new bank's system than I'd been able to see on the old bank's clunky system.) Payments to the old account are automatically redirected for 13 months — my workplace was migrating to a new finance system the same month, and received an automated message when they paid my salary.

There are no fees for normal usage, in the last seven years with the previous account I paid one fee (international transfer). The new bank gave me £100 as a 'reward' for switching to them.

I didn't receive a chequebook, but I haven't used one for years.